Recruiting new employees part three – induction

By KMC Human Resources

20 Jun 2016

We’ve recently been looking at how to improve the process of taking on new staff in a series of blogs on the recruitment process. Here, we turn to the final chapter in the series – induction.

At the outset, it is important to point out that induction is one of the most crucial parts of taking on new staff. You may think that as soon as you have interviewed and selected the person for the role that that is where your work ends. However, this is just the beginning.

Get the paperwork sorted.Whilst the law states that you only need to issue an employment contract within 8 weeks of the starting date, it is always advisable to do this at the earliest opportunity. I would recommend sending the contract with your offer letter. After all, you want your new employee to be fully signed up to your terms when they join the company. Ensure to get a signed copy back for your records, preferably on or before the date of the employee starting the job.

If you have a digital personnel system, get the new employee added straight away. KMC HR is an accredited partner of BreatheHR should you wish to discuss setting up an online HR management system for your business. This will remind you when important dates are coming up, eg end of probation reviews or driving licence checks, so you don’t miss anything.

Be organised.Nothing gives a worse impression to a new member of staff than turning up to their first day of work and no-one knowing who they are or what to do with them. Be sure to send an email round to all relevant staff members informing them of the new arrival’s name, when they will be starting and the role they will be undertaking. If possible, assign one individual to plan and manage the new recruit’s first day. Ensure there is a schedule of activity in place, to cover introductions to the team, the completion of paperwork and any training. Remember that first impressions count; new employees will be trying to suss out if your company is for them just as must as you might be doing the same about them!

Cover all the legal bases.As an employer, it is your job to undertake the necessary checks to ensure that an employee you take on has the right to work in the UK. Failure to do so can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £20,000 per illegal worker. Make sure you ask for and take a copy of documentation for all new starters to the company. Don’t forget to sign the copy to confirm that you’ve seen the original, as well as date it. If an employee has a limited right to work in the UK, it is the employer’s responsibility to conduct ongoing checks; at least once every 12 months or at the point when the permit is due to expire.

Establish training needs.Remember that each individual will have different backgrounds and skills and therefore have differing training needs. For example, someone who is straight out of university may be technologically savvy but perhaps lacking some of the ‘softer skills’ regarding the day to day work environment. However, someone who has worked in a similar work environment for many years in different companies will be well versed in this, but will need bringing up to speed on the systems and processes specific to your company. If you are the manager in charge of looking after the new recruit, take time to have an in depth chat with the new employee to establish their particular training needs.

Probation or not?Many employers choose to have a probationary period – often of six months – to allow new employees to settle in. At the end of this period, should performance not be meeting the required or anticipated standards, employers are quite within their rights not to extend the employment contract into a permanent one. Make sure though that the employee knows how their performance will be assessed during probation and what it expected of them. Schedule regular reviews during the probationary period so you can address any matters of concern at an early stage.

In addition to probationary reviews, setting review meetings with all staff members at regular intervals is also good practice. However, don’t wait until a review meeting to address a matter of concern, or to congratulate an employee on a job well done. Day-to-day communication is also important.

Taking on new staff can be a time consuming and potentially costly process. Following the steps above will help to give you and your new staff member the best chance of making a success of the appointment. For tailored advice specific to your business, please contact us. We offer a free one hour consultation to any business that is new to KMC HR.

Latest news

1

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey Mo Isap from the Lancashire Business Board with the plan

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey

18 Sep 2025

2

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

3

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

4

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing Roger Thistlethwaite, managing director NMS Civil Engineering Limited. Paul Fox, CEO Fox Group. John Flood, Executive Director Fox Group

Fox Group makes second acquisition since Stellex Capital backing

17 Sep 2025

5

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family The Villa Wrea Green courtesy of The Villa Wrea Green

Villa at Wrea Green bought for £3.6m by Haythornthwaite family

16 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin